Box dumping apparatus



Dec. 30, 1952 J. A. BYINGTQN 2,523,652

Box DUMPING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1951 4 sheets-sheet 1 mi. N |.I| ||.||lllllillllllllm;l lllllllllllll IIIM llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llhwlm w F m EVW, V ma. m\ o y lm m Av QS mm mm g A, v. N .l L .Q W a mw e QN EN u? Arron/viv Dec. 30, '1952 J. A. BYINGTON Box DuMPxNG APPARATUS '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1951 um S INVENTORQ J/wss A BY/NGTON "M ArroR/VEY Dec. 30, 1952 J. A. BYlNGToN Box DUMPING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 5', 1951 www EHI

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Y B l/Pw Dec. 30, 1952 Filed Dec. 5, 1951 J. A. BYINGTON Box DUMPING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. LJMES A. BVM/G TON BY d " Arron/Vey Patented Dec. 30, 1952 BOX DUMPIN G APPARATUS James Augustus Byington, Orlando,.Fla.,

to Fruit Treating Corporation, a corporation of Florida assignor Or1ando, Fla.,

Application December 5, 1951, Serial No. 260,000

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved box dumping apparatus, and more particularly to an improved apparatus designed to receive produce filled boxes, gently remove their contents and discharge the produce at one point and the emptied boxes at another point, thereby saving labor and handling costs.

In the processing of fruit, vegetables and the like, the produce is generally collected on the farm and placed in boxes which are later delivered to a processing plant. In order to prepare the produce for market it is generally first washed, color treated, sorted and graded.

This invention provides a box handling and dumping apparatus for the processing plant which will rapidly remove the produce from the boxes without injuring it thus saving labor and handling costs.

More particularly, this invention provides an improved apparatus designed to receive produce filled boxes one at a time, on an endless conveyor. The apparatus empties the boxes without injury to the contents, and discharges the produce at one point and the empty boxes at another.

Various other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

Although the novel featureswhich are believed to be characteristic of the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the inventionjitself, `its objects and advantages and the manner in which it may be carried out, may better be understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which Fig. 1 is' a side elevational' viewpartly in section of the improved box dumping apparatus illustrating the main parts of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view partly in cross section of an element for overturning lled boxes;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view ofthe apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an element for tensioning the main conveyor belt of the Iapparatus;

Fig. 5 is a partial front elevationa1 view partly in cross section of the element for overturning boxes;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a conveyor assisting in the handling of empty boxes Fig. 7 is a cross sectionalview ofthe apparatus as the same would appearif takenv along line 'i-'I of Fig. 1 in thedrectionlof:the` indicating arrows.;

Fig. 8 s a side elevational View of the apparatus illustrating the arrangement of driving belts and chains.

The improved dumping apparatus comprises, briefly, an endless main conveyor I II designed to receive produce lled boxes A, one at a time. The conveyor I0 moves the boxes A to a dumping point where a trip element 2B turns the :lled boxes A o-ver on their side, thus emptying them, as illustrated in Fig. 1, The emptied box is then further carried toa second conveyor A0 which cooperates with a thirdconveyor as illustrated in Fig. 1 and carries the emptied box A to a discharge point, which may be a further conveyor. 'I'he dumped produce on the` main conveyor I0 meanwhile is carried along anddischarged onto a produce gathering `conveyor as illustrated in Fig. 1. Successive boxes placed on the main conveyor I0 are similarly handled.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, the main conveyor I0 comprises an endless conveyor belt II. Oneend of the conveyor belt II istrained around a roller I2 and the other end around a roller I3. A plurality of smaller rollers I 4 support the box load on the `conveyor belt II intermediate the rollers I2`` and I3. The roller I2 has a shaft II5 journalled in bearings I6 se- `cured to the framework 9 of the apparatus.

Similarly,the roller-I 3 has a shaft I1 jour-nailed in bearings I8 secured to the framework 9|. The roller `I3 `is driven by a sprocket I9 secured to the shaft I'I. Sprocket I 9, in turn, is driven by a motor 2.0 transmitting power through driving chains ZI and 22V trained, respectively, around sprockets 2,3 and `24 on the shaft 25.

It will thus be appreciated that a box A placed on the main conveyor I0 will be carried forward by the conveyor until the side of the box s strikes the trip element 2S which extends into the path of the box .at a height a above' the conveyor belt II preferably greater than one half the height h of the side of the box. The trip element 26 turns the box A on its side as illustrated in Fig. 1, thereby causing the box contents to spill gently `onto the moving conveyor beltI I. It will be noted that while the boxA is being turned on its side by the trip elementZB, the trailing corner edge as' of the box side s tends to dig into the conveyor belt I I. In order to allow for necessary expansion of the conveyor belt II during this tipping operation andY toV prevent unnecessary wear andtear on the conveyor belt II,v the belt II fits loosely over the rollers I2, I3 and I4, the slack being taken `up by a roller 21 engagingthe return run of the conveyor belt II. The takeup roller 21 is mounted on a tilting frame 25 pivoted at a point 28a. A counterweight 28 on the tilting frame 28 tends to tilt the frame counterclockwise, thereby tensioning the belt Guard rails 30 on either side of the conveyor` belt guide the boxes A and also prevent the dumped produce from falling off the sides ofthe conveyor belt |l.

The trip element 25 comprises a trip roller 3| horizontally and rotatably mounted above the conveyor belt in the path of approaching boxes. The trip roller 3| has freedom of vertical movement. For this purpose, each'end of the trip roller 3| is journalled in a bearing 32 on the end of a stud 33 vertically slidable in brackets 34 and 35 on the frame 9. A spring 35 telescoped over the stud 33 engages the frame 8 on top and bears with its lower end against nuts 31 on the threaded lower portion ofthe stud 33 for the purpose of spring tension adjustment. The bearings 32 are provided with vertical guide surfaces 38 for the brackets 34, 35 which have machined side surfaces resting against the guide surfaces 38. It will thus be appreciated that a box side s coming into contact with the trip roller 3| will lift the trip roller 3| vertically against the action of the spring 35. After the box A has been turned on its side, the spring returns the trip roller 3| to its original position.

After the trip roller 3| has turned a box on its'side and dumped the produce on the conveyor l0, the conveyor l carries the box A and the produce to their respective discharge points, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

A second conveyor with and beyond the discharge end of the main conveyor I8, receives the emptied boxes and carries them to a discharge point. The second conveyor 45 comprises several horizontally spaced belts 4| trained over the roller 42 at one end and pulleys 43 at the other end. The roller 42 has channels 44 which keep the belts 4| in alignrnent with pulleys 43. A shaft 46 carries belt supporting pulleys 45 and is mounted in bearings 41 on the framework 9. The pulleys 46 support the load carrying run of the conveyor 40. Roller 42 has a shaft 48 mounted in bearings 48 secured to the framework 9, Pulleys 43 are fixed to a shaft o riding in bearings 5| secured to the framework 9 of the apparatus. The conveyor 4o is driven by sprocket 52 secured to the shaft 58.

The second conveyor is upwardly inclined with respect to the main conveyor I0 and commences its run below the run of the main conveyor I8. As a box A is discharged by the conveyor belt the run of the second conveyor 4|)V engages the bottommost leading edge a' of the box A and carries it upwardly.

A third conveyor 55, illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 6, Vextends substantially parallel with the load carrying run of the second conveyor 40 and is spaced a distance therefrom substantially equal to the width w of boxes resting on the second conveyor 40. The third conveyor 55 and the second conveyor 40 form a nip, so to speak, for carrying the empty box A to the discharge point.Y

The third conveyor 55 comprises a pair of horizontally spaced belts 56 and has freedom to change its distance with regard to the second conveyor 48. For this purpose the third conveyor is tiltably mounted on a tilting frame 82 which inv turn is tiltably mounted on the machine framework 9.

The spaced belts 56 of the conveyor are trained 40, substantially in line third conveyor assembly,

around pulleys 51 on a shaft 6o and pulleys 53 on a shaft 55. The two shafts 6U and 85 are rotatable in bearings 6| and 86 on spacing bars 32. Guide pulleys 59 intermediate the ends of the belts 56 support the load carrying run of the third conveyor 55. Shafts 83 are rotatable in bearing 64 on spacing bars 62.

The shaft 65 is also .rotatable in bearing 51 of an intermediate tilting frame 88, the frame BS being tiltable about a shaft 89. Bearings 18 for the shaft 69 are mounted on the tilting frame 33 and further bearings 1| are mounted on the machine framework 9. Thus, the intermediate tilting frame 68 is tiltable with respect to the' about the axis 68 and the including the belts 58, the spacing bar 62,' and the supporting pulleys 89 are tiltable with respect to the intermediate frame G8 about the axis 65.

The shaft 69 acts as a stop limiting the tilting movement of the bars 62 about the axis 85 towards the second conveyor, and stops i2 limit the tilting movement of the intermediate frame 58 about the axis |59 towards the second conmachine framework 8 The third conveyor 55 is driven by sprocket 13 secured to the shaft 65. The sprocket 13 is in turn driven by a chain 14 trained around sprocket 15 secured to the shaft 69. Sprocket "i8 is secured to thershaft l|59.

A box A tipped over onV its side s by the tripping element 26 dumps the boxV contents, for example, oranges, on the conveyor belt as illustrated in Fig. 1. Thel empty box is then discharged from the conveyor belt Il onto the second conveyor 48. It will be noted that the conveyor 4o commences its run at a point below the discharge end of the conveyor belt l. Thus, an emptied box A being conveyed from the conveyor belt will rst have its leading bottommost edge a: engage the conveyor belt 4| and be carried upwardly by the conveyor belt 4|. The third conveyor 55 cooperates with the second conveyor 4o and engages the top side of the box A which thus travels to the box discharge point. As the box A approaches the end of the second conveyor 4i! gravity will tend to roll the box over the pulley 43. It should be noted, however, that the conveyor 55 still engages the top side of the box beyond theroll off point on conveyor 48, thereby ensuring positive handling of the empty box at the end of the conveyor 48.

An idler roller 11 rotatably mounted on the framework 9 is provided immediately adjacent the discharge end of conveyor 45 and guides boxes leaving the conveyor 48 so that the boxes come to rest in upright position on a fourth conveyor 8o which takes the empty boxes to the discharging station. The fourth conveyor 8B comprises a conveyor belt 8| having a run below and substantially horizontal to the run of conveyor 48. The conveyor belt 8| is trained around a drum 82 at one end and a drum'83 at the other end. Drums 82 and 83 have shafts 84 and 85 respectively, which are journalled in bearings 8G and 81 secured to the framework 9 of the apparatus.

Dumped fruit or produce is discharged from theV conveyor belt onto a produce gathering belt se. The beit so is trained around a drum al at one end and a drum 92 at the other. The belt 80 1s mounted slightly below the discharge end of conveyor belt and substantially at right angles. Fruit from the conveyor belt rolls onto the belt and is carried to a fruit gathering point. Drums 9| and 92 have shafts 93 and 94 mounted in bearings 95 and 96 on the framework 9y of the appara- The improved box dumping apparatus is preferably powered by asingle motor 20 which transmits power to the -conveyor belt Il through driving chains 2| and 22 trained aroundsprockets 23 and 24 on the shaft 25. The shaft v25 is connected to a bevel gear 91 which transmits power to the shaft 98. Shaft 98 is provided with a pair of sprockets 99 and |00 -around which chains I 0I and I 02 are trained which drive sprockets |03 and |04 on the shafts 85 and 94` respectively of the conveyor belts 8| and 90.

Conveyor and conveyor v55 are driven from sprocket secured to the shaft 25. A drive chain |96 trained around'the sprocket |05 extends over an idler sprocket I 01Ia drivingsprocket 52, a second idler sprocket |09, a sprocket 'I6 and finally back to the sprocket |05. Sprocket 52 thus drives the conveyor belt III and sprocket 'I6 drives the conveyor belt 5 While certain novel features of this invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will bev understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

l. A box dumping apparatus comprising in combination a movable main conveyor for boxes, a trip element extending into the path of boxes on said main conveyor at a distance above said main conveyor equal to more than one-half the height of said boxes for turning the boxes over on one side causing the box contents to spill on said main conveyor, a second conveyor, substanand beyond the discharge end of said main conveyor, said second conveyor being upwardly inclined with respect to said main conveyor for engaging the bottommost leading edge of boxes leaving said main conveyor, yieldable guide means substantially parallel with the load carrying run of said second conveyor and spaced a distance therefrom substantially equal to the width of boxes resting on said second conveyor, means beyond the discharge end of said second conveyor for carrying boxes away, and means beyond the discharge end of said main conveyor for collecting dumped box contents.

2. A box dumping apparatus comprising in combination a movable main conveyor for boxes, a trip element extending into the path of boxes on said main conveyor` at a distance above said main conveyor equal to more than one-half the height of said boxes for turning the boxes over on one side causing the box contents to spill on said main conveyor, a second conveyor, substantially in line with and beyond the discharge end of said main conveyor, said second conveyor comprising horizontally spaced belts upwardly inclined with respect to said main conveyor for engaging the bottommost leading edge of boxes, said spaced belts having a central space between them for the discharge of box contents from said main conveyor, yieldable guide means substantially parallel with the load carrying run of said second conveyor and spaced a distance therefrom substantially equal to the width of boxes resting on said second conveyor, means beyond the discharge end of said second conveyor for carrying boxes away. and means beyond the discharge end of said main conveyor for collecting dumped box contents.

3. A box dumping apparatus comprising in combination a movable main conveyor for boxes,

a tnp element extending into the `path ofboxes on said main conveyor at a `distance above. said main conveyor equal to more than Vone-half the height of said boxes for turning the boxes over on one side causing the box contents to spill on said main conveyor, Aa second` conveyor, substantially in line with and beyond the discharge` end of said main conveyor, said second conveyor being upwardly inclined with respect to said main conveyor for engaging the bottommost leading edge of boxes, a third conveyor having a run substantially parallel with the load carrying run of said conveyor and spaced a distance therefrom substantially equal to the width of boxes resting on said second conveyor, said third conveyor being mounted with freedom of movement towards and away from said second conveyor, means beyond the discharge end of said second conveyor for carrying boxes away, and lmeansbeyond the discharge end of said main conveyor for collecting dumped box contents.

4. A box dumping apparatus comprising in combination a movable main conveyor for boxes, a trip element extending into the path of boxes on said main conveyor at a distance above said main conveyor equal to more than one-half the height of said boxes for turning the boxes over on one side causing the box contents to spill on said main conveyor, a second conveyor, substantially in line with and beyond the discharge end of said main conveyor, said second conveyor comprising horizontally spaced belts upwardly inclined with respect tc said main conveyor for engaging the bottommost leading edge of boxes, said spaced belts leaving a central space betweenv them for the discharge of box contents from said main conveyor, a third conveyor having a run substantially parallel with the load carrying run of said second conveyor and spaced a distance therefrom substantially equal to the width of boxes resting on said second conveyor, said third conveyor being mounted with freedom of movement towards and away from said second conveyor and extending beyond the run of said second conveyor, means beyond the discharge end of said second conveyor for carrying boxes away, and means beyond the discharge end of said main conveyor for collecting dumped box contents,

5. A box dumping apparatus comprising in combination a movable main conveyor for boxes, a trip element extending into the path of boxes on. said main conveyor at a distance above said main conveyor equal to more than one-half the height,

of said boxes for turning the boxes over on one.-

side causing the box contents to spill on said main conveyor, a second conveyor, substantially in line` with and beyond the discharge end of said main conveyor, said second conveyor being upwardly inclined with respect to said main conveyor for engaging the bottommost leading edge of boxes leaving said main conveyor, a third power driven conveyor having a run substantially parallel with the load carrying run of said second conveyor and spaced a distance therefrom substantially equal to the width of boxes resting on said conveyor, said third conveyor being mounted with freedom of movement towards and away from said second conveyor, said second conveyor terminating short of the said third conveyor with between said second beyond the end of said second conveyor but still in engagement with said third conveyor, means vassauts:

beynd the discharge end of said second con- [veyor Afor carrying boxes away,

`and means beyond the discharge end of said main conveyor for collecting dumped box contents.

6. A box dumping apparatus comprising in combination a movable main conveyor for boxes, a trip element extending into the path of boxes on said main conveyor at a distance above said main conveyor equal to more than one-half the height of said boxes for turning the boxes over on one side causing the box contents to spill on said main conveyor, a second conveyor, substantially in line with and beyond the discharge end of said main conveyor, said second conveyor being upwardly inclined with respectl to said main conveyor for engaging the bottommost leading edge of boxes leaving said main' conveyor, a third power driven conveyor having a run substantially parallel with the load carrying run of said second conveyor and spaced a distance therefrom substantially equal to the width of boxes resting on said second conveyor, said third conveyor being pivotally mounted with freedom of movement towards and away from said second conveyor, said second conveyor terminating short of the said third oonveyor with respect to boxes travelling between said second and third conveyors, the second conveyor having an end roller over which it is trained, said end roller being a pivot point for boxes passing beyond the end of said second conveyor but still in engagement with said third conveyor, means beyond the discharge end of said second conveyor for carrying boxes away, and means beyond the discharge end of said main conveyor for collecting dumped box contents.

7. A box dumping apparatus comprising in combination a movable main conveyor for boxes, a trip element extending into the path of boxes on Vsaid main conveyor at a distance above said main i main conveyor, a split second conveyor comprisy ing horizontally spaced belts leaving spaces between the belts through which box contents may drop, said second conveyor being substantially in line with and beyond the discharge end of said main conveyor, a 'third power driven conveyor having a run substantially parallel with the load carrying run of said second conveyor and spaced a distance therefrom Vsubstantially equal to the width of boxes resting on said second conveyor, said third conveyor being mounted with freedom of movement towards and away from said second conveyor, said second conveyor being upwardly inclined with respect to said main conveyor for engaging the bottommost leading edge of boxes and having an end roller whereby said end roller becomes a pivot point for boxes passing beyond the end of said second conveyor but still in engagement with said third conveyor, means beyond the discharge end of said second conveyor for carrying boxes away, and a fourth conveyor extending underneath the split second conveyor for carrying box contents away.

JAMES AUGUSTUS BYINGTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesV are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Y Date 1,907,458 Stevenson May 9, 1933 2,271,937 Engels Feb. 3, 1942 2,517,956 Albertoli Aug. 8, 1950 

